Indicating counter device



Nov. 26, 1963 D. H. LlEN 3,112,395

INDICATING COUNTER DEVICE Filed Jan. 9, 1959 R if E I! i U Q,

\ N c o W o 4 k United States Patent 3,112,395 INDICATING C(BUNTERDEVICE Dallas H. Lien, Indianapolis, Ind assignor to Western ElectricCompany, incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York FiledJan. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 785,957 1 Claim. ((31. 235-92) This inventionrelates to an indicating counter device and more particularly to adevice comprising a plurality of lamps selectively controlled by a relaycircuit to indicate and record circuit conditions subsequent to apredetermined number of actuations of a pair of push-button switches.

In the inspection of large runs of manufactured articles, an inspectorwill periodically remove a randomly selected lot from the run and willinspect this sample for quality. If the inspector finds a predeterminednumber of satisfactory parts between two unsatisfactory parts, then hewill consider the run is resulting in products of acceptable quality.However, if one part is found unsatisfactory and before thepredetermined number of satisfactory parts are found anotherunsatisfactory part is found, then it is presumed that the run isresulting in products that are below a predetermined quality level. Atpresent, the inspector makes these counts mentally thus resulting innumerous and frequent errors.

It is a prime object of this invention to provide a new and improvedindicating counter device for use by production inspectors.

A further object of this invention is to provide an indicating countercircuit with a plurality of normally deenergized relays which, whenrendered effective, actuate a visual system informing an inspector ofthe acceptability or rejectability of a sample lot of articles underinspection.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indicating counterthat may be reset for subsequent operation by the depression of a switchregardless of existing conditions within a control circuit of thedevice.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplatesan indicating counter circuit comprising, among other things, a powersupply, a series of relays, a plurality of indicating lamps and a pairof manually adjusted rotary switches which are preset in accordance withpredetermined specifications. Upon depressing a first of a pair of pushbuttons, a pair of relays are energized and are maintained in thisenergized condition prior to initiating an inspection operation. Whenthe inspection of a randomly selected sample of articles has begun andascertainment of a satisfactory article has been made, a second pushbutton is depressed. This action is repeated for each satisfactoryarticle inspected. Should an unsatisfactory article be found prior to apreset number of actuations of the second push button as determined bythe setting of the rotary switches, said first push button is againactuated thereby illuminating a red indicating lamp. However, should thesecond push button be actuated in accordance with the preset number, agreen lamp will be lit indicating the sample lot is a satisfactoryrepresentation of an entire run.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing wherein the single FIGURE is adiagrammatic view of a circuit forming one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the counter circuit comprises, among otherthings, a pair of manually adjusted rotary switches and 11 which are setin compliance with predetermined requirements. Successive contacts ofthe switch 10 are connected in series with corresponding contacts of astepping relay generally designated by the numeral *9. The steppingrelay comprises a stepping magnet 14 and a sweeper arm 12. The sweeperarm 12 of the stepping relay may be actuated by either the steppingmagnet \14 or a reset magnet 16. The contacts of the rotary switch 11are similarly associated with the contacts of a second stepping relaydesignated by the numeral 8. A sweeper arm arm '13 of the secondstepping relay may be advanced by either a stepping magnet 15 or a resetmagnet 17.

A power supply 1% is tapped by a plurality of conductors leading todiverse locations throughout the circuit but particularly to the sweeperarm 12 and to a pair of push buttons Zll and 21. Normally openpush-button switch 2 1 is connected to a normally closed acceptpushbutton switch 22 for simultaneous actuation therewith.

In an actuated position, the reject push button 20' provides a directpath for current to a counter 23, the reset magnet 17 and a relay 24.Current passed through the relay 24 results in the drawing up ofcontacts 25 and 26 and the subsequent energization of relay 27 which inturn draws up contacts 28 and 29. Closure of contacts 28 completes alocking circuit for the relay 27 which may be traced through the contact'28 and a contact 30 of a deenergized relay 6-2 and conditions thecircuit for the subsequent energization of relay 33. The release of pushbutton 20 opens the path of current to the relay 24 resulting in thereturn of the contacts 25 and 26 to their former positions and theenergization of relay 33 thereby drawing up contacts 34 and 35.Energizing current for the relay 36 is provided by a circuit which maybe traced from the relay through contacts 29, 26 and 30 to the powersupply 18.

Any subsequent depression of the push button 26 will again energize therelay 24 and draw up the contacts 25 and 26 thereby energizing a relay36. The relay 36 when energized draws up contacts 4 7 to complete acircuit for a red indicating lamp 44. The path for energizing currentfor relay 36 can be traced from the AC. source through the contact 25, arectifier 37 and the contact 35. As a further consequence of the closingof the contacts 25 and 26, current will pass from the source through thecontact 25 and a rectifier 38, thereby providing energizing current forthe reset magnet 16.

Each simultaneous actuation of the push buttons 21 and 22 affectsseveral components. When closed, push button 21 provides a path forcurrent from the power supply 18 to a counter '41 and the steppingmagnet 14 while the switch 22 conditions a circuit from a contact X ofthe first stepping relay to the stepping magnet 15 of the secondstepping relay. Repeated energization of the stepping magnets 14 and 15results in the advance of the sweeper arms 12 and 1 3. When apredetermined setting has been reached and the sweeper arms 12 and 13are positioned at contacts coincident with those at which the wiper armsor the switches 10 and 11 have been placed, energizing current will passdirectly from the source through the relay 32 to ground. Enerigizationof relay 32 draws up contacts 30 and 31. The closure of contact 30provides a direct path for current from the source to the greenindicating lamp 42, and the drawing up of contact 3d opens an existingcircuit to an initially illuminated yellow 131111343. The red lamp 44 isilluminated and the yellow lamp extinguished when the relay 32 is in adeenergized state and the relay 36 has been energized and has closedcontacts 46 and 47.

Made of Operation Having set the manually adjustable switches 10 and 11in compliance with predetermined requirements of N successivesatisfactorily inspected articles, the inspector then depresses pushbutton 20. The actuation of push button 20 conditions the circuit for aninspection operaa tion by energizing the relays 27 and 33 and resettingsweeper arms 12 and 13 in the previously described manner. Theillumination of the yellow indicating lamp 43 verifies thepre-inspection conditioning of the circuit and informs the inspectorthat the relays 27 wd 33 are energized. A path for current to the lamp43 is provided by the conductors leading from the power supply 18through push-button switch 20 and contacts 31 and 47 of relays 32 and36.

When the inspection operation has begun, the inspector, uponascertaining that an article satisfactorily meets the definedrequirements, depresses push button 22. Each depression of switch 22simultaneously affects the counter 41 and results in the energization ofthe stepping magnet 14, thereby advancing the sweeper arm 12. Ninesuccessive depressions of the push button 22 will place the sweeper arm1-2 at the contact designated by the X. With the arm in this position,the release of the push button 22 will provide a path for energizingcurrent to the stepping magnet 15 thereby advancing the sweeper arm 13.A subsequent depression of the switch 22 will advance the sweeper arm 12to the position designated by a Y and will result in the energization ofthe reset magnet 16. Current to the magnet 16 will fiow from the sourcethrough the wiper arm 12 to ground.

Should N successive articles be found satisfactory, a path for currentfrom the AC. source to ground through the arms 10, 11, 12 and 13 willexist and the energization of relay 32 will result. Contacts and 31 willbe closed thereby illuminating the green lamp 42 and extinguishing theyellow lamp 43, which has been illuminated since the initial depressionof the push button 20. However, should an unsatisfactory article befound prior to the inspection of N successive satisfactory articles, theinspector will again depress push button 20 thereby energizing the relay24. Since relays 27 and 33 are locked in an energized position, thecontact 35 is closed and provides a path for energizing current to relay36. Relay 36 will then draw up contacts 46 and 47 thereby illuminatingthe red lamp 44 and extinguishing the yellow lamp 43. Illuminatingcurrent to the filaments of the lamp 44 follows the identical path thatcurrent to the lamp 43 did; however, in this instance, the position ofthe contact 47 provides an alternate path through the lamp 44 to ground.

With the red lamp illuminated, the inspector is apprised that theproduction of parts is below a predetermined quality level and he willaccordingly inform the operators on the production line of thisunsatisfactory condition. Following inspection of each sample lot, theinspector need not depress push button 20 prior to inspecting the newsample lot but rather will continue the inspection procedure, depressingthe buttons 22 and 20 in accordance with the quality of each inspectedpart.

When the push button 20 is actuated, circuits are completed to the resetmagnets 16 and 17. Consequently, sweeper arms 12 and 13 will be resetand the existing path for energizing current to relay 32 will be cutofi. Upon deenergization of relay 32, the green lamp 42 will beextinguished and the yellow lamp 43 will become illuminated once again.

If, however, the product is found unsatisfactory and the red lamp isilluminated, the inspector will not reset the circuit to the initialcondition but will continue the inspection procedure depressing theappropriate button in accordance with the quality of each inspectedpart. If the next part is found unsatisfactory and the button 20 isdepressed, the red light will remain on; however, if the next part isgood, the depression of the push button 22 effects the extinguishment ofthe red light and the illumination of the yellow light. In this lastinstance, the subsequent depression of the good button N1 times willresult in the illumination of the green light.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of this invention. Numerous otherarrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art whichwill embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spiritand scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

Apparatus for distinctively indicating three mutually exclusiveconditions characterized by preceding sequences of operation of twodevices, the three sequences consisting of (l) at least N successiveoperations of a first one of the devices, (2) a single operation of thesecond one of the devices preceded by at least N successive operationsof the first device, and (3) two operations of the second deviceseparated by less than N successive operations of the first device,which apparatus comprises a counter for counting successive operationsof the first device, first circuit means responsive to the counting of Nsuccessive operations of the first device to indicate the firstcondition, said first circuit means being responsive to an operation ofthe second device while indicating the first condition to remove theindication of the first condition and to indicate the second condition,second circuit means conditionable: to a primed state by an operation ofthe second device and conditionable to an unprimed state by said counterupon counting of N successive operations of the first device subsequentto an operation of the second device, said second circuit means beingresponsive to an operation of the second device while in its primedstate to remove the indication of the second condition and to indicatethe third condition, and third circuit means for resetting said counterto starting position in response to each operation of the second device,said first circuit means being effective upon the counting of N"successive operations of the first device by said counter to remove anyindication of the second and third conditions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,087,039 McM-aster July 13, 1937 2,295,968 Poole Sept. 15, 19422,314,267 Br-ixner Mar. 16, 1943 2,461,452 Thompson Feb. 8, 19492,721,701 Hardesty et a1 Oct. 25, 1955 2,877,895 Drader Mar. 17, 19592,983,375 Gates May 9, 1961

